Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
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3.3 Classification and Delineation of Duties and Responsibilities:
Classification
3.3.5 Duties of All Police Department Members (Revised : 7/18/18)
A. General
It shall be the duty of all personnel in the Police Department, both sworn and civilian, to
maintain a course of conduct that benefits the University of California and the Police
Department, and will not adversely reflect upon the University, the Police Department, or
the individual.
B. Obedience to Orders
Personnel in the Polic e Department shall obey and fully execute any lawful order, written
or oral, given by management, which shall include, but not necessarily be limited to the
Rules and Regulations, General and Special Orders and the Policies and Procedures of
the Police Dep artment. The term lawful order shall be construed as any duty prescribed
by law or by these Rules and Regulations, or for the preservation of good order,
efficiency and proper discipline.
C. Manner of Issuing Orders
Orders from management to a subordinate shall be in clear and understandable language,
civil in tone, and issued in pursuit of Police Department business.
D. Unlawful Orders
Police Department management shall issue on ly lawful orders to subordinate personnel.
E. Obedience to Unlawful Orders
Obedience to an unlawful order is never a defense for an unlawful action, and no
individual is required at any time to obey an order that is contrary to City, State or
Federal law.
F. Improper Orders
Personnel receiving orders they feel to be improper, unjust or contrary to Police
Department Orders or Regulations must first obey the order to the best of their ability and
in compliance with the law. Upon receipt of an improper order, the individual shall
indicate to the person issuing the o rder that it is improper, along with an explanation, and
then appeal the matter through the chain of command afterwards unless the supervisor
reconsiders and the matter no longer presents a conflict.
G. Maintenance of Police Department Directives
Police D epartment personnel issued copies of Rules and Regulations, General and
Special Orders and other Police Department Directives are responsible for their
maintenance. All personnel will have electronic access to Department General Orders and
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
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have the respons ibility of staying updated on General Orders either electronically or by
accessing a hard copy.
H. Personal Appearance
Police Department personnel shall at all times, while on duty, be neat and professional in
appearance and comply with Police Department orders on wearing of the uniform,
appearance and grooming standards.
I. Speaking Engagements, Exhibitions, Etc.
Police Department personnel who are approached or requested to make public
appearances in connection with their Police Department duties, or as a result of his/her
association with the Police Department, shall first have authorization from his/her
immediate supervisor. All such public appearances shall be documented for the Police
Department’s records through the member’s Division Manager.
J. Release of Information/Confidentiality of Records
It shall be the duty of all Police Department personnel to safeguard confidential
information. Information regarding suspects and ongoing investigations, as well as
juvenile information, will not be released to any person except in accordance with the
law. Personnel shall be expected at all times to protect the confidentiality of Police
Department records and not discuss, disclose nor otherwise release information of a
confidential nature, except when such dis closure is authorized by law. Any information
accessible only to personnel of the Police Department as a result of their employment
shall be considered confidential unless otherwise defined.
K. Courtesy/Cooperation
Police Department personnel shall perfor m their duties in a courteous, professional
manner and cooperate with other Police Department personnel, the public and other law
enforcement agencies.
L. Impartiality
Police Department personnel shall perform their duties in a fair and impartial manner
without being influenced by race, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, color, age, sexual
orientation, sexual preference, marital status, disability, economic status or national
origin or ancestry.
M. Efficiency
Police Department personnel shall perform their duties efficiently without wasting time
or resources.
N. Completion of Reports, Records, Documents
Police Department personnel shall complete reports, records, and other police documents
in an accurate, complete and timely manner.
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
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O. Press Relations
Police Department personnel shall comply with Police Department orders when dealing
with the press, and all information released shall be in accordance with prescribed
directives from the Office of the Chief of Police.
P. Rules of the Universit y of California Office of the President Human Resources
Police Department personnel shall comply with all Rules of the University of California
Office of the President Human Resources Personnel Policies for Staff Members (PPSM)
and their respective labor r elations collective bargaining agreements as they pertain to
university employees. A copy of the University of California policies can be obtained
online at the University of California, San Francisco Human Resources website. These
policies are available for review by all personnel. The university’s Violence in the
Workplace Policy, the Sexual Harassment Policy, the Discrimination Policy and the
Workers Compensation Policy are incorporated into UCSF Campus Administrative
Policies website: http://policies.ucsf.edu/ . In the case of conflict or confusion between
university regulations and rules and the regulations or procedures of the Police
Department, the Police Department personnel shall immediately bring conflicti ng matters
to the attention of an immediate supervisor for clarification.
Q. Possession of a Valid Driver’s License
1. Police Department personnel required to operate Police